Sunday, June 07, 2015

Private Business vs Government

The Chicago Tribune is eliminating about two dozen positions, including 10 in the newsroom, in a cost-savings measure, sources said. Notice of the layoffs began Wednesday.

A Chicago Tribune spokesman would not confirm the number of layoffs but said the newspaper is working to improving efficiency and productivity across departments.

"The newsroom continues to evolve to support our expanding content portfolio and digital efforts," Matt Hutchison, Chicago Tribune spokesman, said in a statement. "We continue to add and invest in staff in key areas such as investigative reporting, digital programming, local news, opinion leadership and commentary."

In March, Tribune Publishing said it planned to reduce expenses by $65 million to $70 million to offset a projected 3 percent revenue decline for 2015. At the time, the company said it would look to achieve the cuts mostly through centralized purchasing, and that layoffs were not expected to be part of the cost-saving measures.

And then you have good old Chicago, Cook County, Illinois government - people and businesses fleeing the state (revenue decline), $100 billion or more in debt, outrageous service costs on the debt, inefficiency rampant.

The state legislature passes a budget that is an additional $3 billion out of whack.

Cook County hires a media personality's son to deliver "policy" on a field he has no experience in.

Chicago kicks the pension can down the road another 15 years while spending untold millions it doesn't have, counting on a casino that doesn't even exist.

Death of a city by a thousand strokes....making a thousand purchases, spending millions and millions of dollars for new....not much for old...ie old pensions...this town does not know how to make cuts. There were only 82 persons who moved into Chicago proper this past year...yet they are building the zillion dollar Fly-Over with the excuse there will be an explosion of newbies to Cgo. Politicians making a name for them-selves is all they are doing. NO stopping them now.

Opinion leadership ? ??Your job is to present us the facts . We will then form our own opinion . Better go have a meeting to try and figure out why readership is down . You can either take money from the government for spreading propaganda or from customers who enjoy reading unbiased reports . You will not do both for very long .

We need to see some Ed. Board members huddledaround a fire barrel with their families...

You know... Since they cheerlead so energeticallyfor "Greedy Cops" to take a bad financial haircut while the 1%-ermoney conjurers are lined up to stealthat "free" Police pension money that's doingnothing for them.

OT SCC could you expound on this heart warming story? Two officers from 024, Steven Ommundson & Eugene Shields rushed "Sophie the dog", who had been shot in the head during a domestic, to an animal hospital thereby saving her life. I don't know these guys as I have been retired from the job. I did work in 024 in the early 80s. Just wanted to thank them for what they did for this dog. My last two dogs were rescued from the job.abc7chicago.com/pets/chicago-dog-survives-gunshot-wound-to-head-/768896/

Here's a great example of Govt waste!men's restroom of Area Central- the facet has been running 24/7 for a week! The proper requests have been submitted multiple times by the office, but l City general services/ plumbers haven't had time to come out. This thing gets called on a daily basis and no one cares. But, I bet the sign the city paid a clout vendor to make about not wasting a drop of water was a great idea on paper.

Chicago would have a surplus of cash if not for at the dirty money being paid out. The city, county and state are a fucking joke. If any of these three were a private business each would of gone under long ago. I hate this place!

In the case of CPS, the financial decisions are made by hedge funders appointed to the School Board first by Daley and then by Rahm, none of whom have experience teaching in a CPS school, and all of whom have participated in steering city money towards banker friends and educational profiteers, resulting in junk bond status for school bonds. The money has gone everywhere but into the pension funds and regular public CPS classrooms. CPS is broke on purpose, for sure.

This is the collapse of American journalism as anything close to being a guardian of our rights as American citizens. Now it is all blogs and email newsletters.

This is the last coughs of a dying media. There was a time when there was almost a dozen daily newspapers in Chicago. Papers like the Tribune, The Sun, The Times, The Daily News, The Herald and The Chicago Today plus papers in Polish and German. They employed a lot of people and their trucks were all over. Some papers just quit, some combined.

As a kid in the 50's I remember walking with my little brother to the drug store on a Saturday night to get ice cream and the Herald-Trib'n Times as they came off the trucks. Loved the smell of the ink and we had a whole new batch of Dick Tracey, Beetle Bailey and all the other comics to read.

Even as diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia remain decidedly chilly over the Ukrainian conflict, the State Department is reaching out to "up-and-coming" Russian journalists. A recent $150,000 grant offering from the U.S. embassy in Moscow seeks to establish a program to give Russian journalists an "intensive professional exchange experience in American newsrooms," plus "cultural experiences that allow them to learn more about the United States in general."

These layoffs are welcome news. What do these "news reporters" report anyways? If you examine the different news sources like CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Chicago Tribune, Sun Times, etc. they all parrot the same information. Plus they are the official mouth piece of Big Business and influential politicians. For example, here is a sample of the headlines: Mayor Emanuel Welcomes The Challenge Of Dealing With City Unions Who Oppose Reforms, More Immigration Needed To Lift Wages and Help The Economy, Mayor Emanuel To Crack Down On Spending Waste, etc.

Those headlines are hog wash. If the media was interested in exposing all of the waste they could have a field day. But they choose not to. But the public has figured them out and that is ultimately why they are going out of business and blogs like this are gaining popularity.

O.T. So I'm reading the Sun Times this morning about IAD and all its blunderings when there is a quote from JENNIFER ROTTNER who is a police spokeswoman. My God when does the nepotism end? Can't these people get jobs on their own without daddy's help?

Ok. Good point, but two issues: 1. "Investigative reporting" ha, what a joke. The main reason politicians and government gets away with all this is because of biased reporting and special interest in news coverage. News should have no connection to government or private sector. They are part of the problem. 2. Since your the one blog writer that leans far right (even though the far right would love to see you police for minimum wage, or at least make a profit off your lively hood), let's start cuts and streamlining with the police department. No new hires and start laying off street officers.

Wait, that's what has been happening right? But the brass and all city agency's answer to the mayor who is not fixing any problems and spending like it's his job. Has the news (any outlet) ran a story on the amounts of money pissed away by this administration? In a running talley format? The keep kissing his ass. "What a wonderful 606 park!"

Your point is well taken but spun in a fashion that the far right and private business our "our friends" in general which is not the case.

Tongue-in-cheek: Could lousy public management be blamed for failure if lousy politicians are the overlords of management?

Take yesterday...the academy was invaded by a large flock white breasted buttsuckers (closely related to blue breasted bootlickers and cousins of the big breasted penizpluckers) attempting to prove they DESERVE promotions due to their exemplary knowledge, abilities, accomplishments, etc. ROFL!!!!!

Just prior to the invasion, headquarters advertised for MERIT SERGEANTS. M-E-R-I-T. Not ability. M-E-R-I-T.

White breasted fowl of all ilk believe rank automatically endows them with ability to control SPECIALIZED functions without training, experience or education in the specialty. Hence, the buttsuckers, bootlickers and penizpluckers (much like Asian carp) devour the competent, the able and the dedicated---and are paid well to do it.

Just be grateful the police department doesn't have a dentistry unit...

They ran an op/ed the other day about our looming pension changes that decried the fact that the employees aren't paying more in this deal. They never once mentioned that this bill's language lets Rahm borrow like a drunken sailor and not put a penny into the pension if he so chooses.

They said we are "whining" and "moaning" about the state of our pensions.

How dare they? Do you think the Trib would ever use that kind of language when reporting on any other newsworthy group of people (and folks) in this miserable city?

Fuck the Trib. Keep canceling those subscriptions. We want you BK....Fuck You.

Ten layoffs in the news room. Good luck on your next job. Dnainfo is fully staffed, so I don't know what you will do. Maybe a closed circulation trade magazine, editing product news releases. Karma is a bitch when you produce lies and bias.

Rahm's $96 million bike trail project running through Humboldt Park/Logan Square off to a big hit. Officer involved shooting on it's opening day! This thing is gonna be a problem. MLD (gang McCarthy "eradicated") pulls a gun on a gang team last night. Shots fired, weapon recovered, all officers are safe.

They figure every angle, to help themselves to the taxpayers money.They've been looting the public employees pensions since the Jim Thompson days!Now the nine fingered phony,wants a casino.saying they'll use its revenue to fund the pensions.Only after they get to skim it for five years!As long as these criminals,Madigan,Drunko Cullerton, and Rainer.Be prepared to continue to be sodomized with ground fiberglass & Ben-Gay!!!!

Man arrested in connection with police-involved shooting near The 606 trail

"Police arrested a man in connection with a police-involved shooting early Sunday morning alongside the elevated Bloomingdale Trail that officially opened this weekend in the Logan Square neighborhood on the Northwest Side...

"Around 12:05 a.m., a man was standing in the 1700 block of North Talman Avenue when he pulled out a weapon and pointed it at officers...

"A police officer fired a shot in response, but no one was injured...

"A suspect was taken into custody, but it was not immediately known what charges would be filed...

"At the scene of the shooting, police officers blocked off about a half-block of the one-way North Talman Avenue with yellow police tape. Officers also spread red police tape in front of one of the houses on the west side of the street.

"Police officers found a gun on the ground near the cordoned-off house and were guarding it early Sunday morning..."

Rahm's $96 million bike trail project running through Humboldt Park/Logan Square off to a big hit. Officer involved shooting on it's opening day! This thing is gonna be a problem. MLD (gang McCarthy "eradicated") pulls a gun on a gang team last night. Shots fired, weapon recovered, all officers are safe.

6/07/2015 12:32:00 PM

I read that they were still $20M short on the public financing end of this white elephant. Where is that money going to come from? The ability of this administration to waste money is mind boggling. I'm sure the new rock climbing walls in Maggot Park will be used regularly. The liberal mantra: "we must spend money, whether we have it or not".

There is no more news. Just reporters running sensationalistic stories. Reporters listening to scanners looking for the next story they can sensationalize. Then Fighting other reporters for the best camera shot. Like run to a police shooting and finding the obligatory "witness" who didn't see the shooting but will be happy to say they shot the offender in the back. Then they will run his story on how he had 5 kids at age 20 and was a inspiring rapper. The song dirty laundry couldn't be more appropriate when describing the news media

Anonymous Anonymous said...Opinion leadership ? ??Your job is to present us the facts . We will then form our own opinion . Better go have a meeting to try and figure out why readership is down . You can either take money from the government for spreading propaganda or from customers who enjoy reading unbiased reports . You will not do both for very long .

6/07/2015 01:03:00 AM

Good on you sir!

That was a very nice and timely catch!

Fibune editors openly showing that ass while trying to be too smart, cute and clever.

Let's oblige them by kicking them in it...

"Opinion Leadership" = Complicity in the Cult of Corruption that has ruined this cityas a place to live, work and raise familiesfor those upright people who mind their business, play by the rules and most importantly, paythe freight to make Chicago go...

The only winners are Rahm's ilk and the deathworshippers in the no-go zones on the west and south sides.

You hacks have spent the last 30 years energetically lookingEvery which way but the right way for your plausible deniabilityfor ignoring the prolific thievery and corruption of Daley Inc. and Rahm & Co.

But you dirty cocksuckers walk the backs off each other's shoes submitting FOI requests for records on Policemenallegedly slapping the shit out of some goblin from yesterday (sic) to nearly 50 years ago while you give the above m/fers who have looted BILLIONS over 25 years a pass.

Anonymous Anonymous said...Rahm's $96 million bike trail project running through Humboldt Park/Logan Square off to a big hit. Officer involved shooting on it's opening day! This thing is gonna be a problem. MLD (gang McCarthy "eradicated") pulls a gun on a gang team last night. Shots fired, weapon recovered, all officers are safe.

6/07/2015 12:32:00 PMSame area about two months ago had a homicide next to the trail a block west, and a shitbag got some lead a bout a month earlier just two blocks north. Area been getting real hot lately, any chance of a VRI zone ??? Or are they afraid to admit they might need one north of north avenue !

Prosecutors: Man accidentally killed friend as they smoked marijuana together

"A Roseland man faces involuntary manslaughter charges after prosecutors say he accidentally killed his friend while they were smoking marijuana and he forgot the gun was loaded.

"Antonio Lampley, a 23-year-old Wal Mart greeter, was sitting in the backseat of a parked car on Feb. 25 near his home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue, smoking marijuana and listening to music with friends...

"Derrius Drakes, also 23, was sitting in front of him...

"As they smoked, Lampley was holding the gun and “moving to the music,” but forgot there was a bullet in the chamber...

"The gun went off, with the bullet striking Drakes in the back and becoming lodged in his chest...

"Lampley immediately hid the gun, put Drakes in his truck and drove him to Roseland Community Hospital, where Drakes was pronounced dead..."

Off Topic: What happened with the memorandum on the recent mayoral election that asked "Should the City of Chicago school board be elected or appointed by the mayor?" I'm pretty sure I saw that the results were overwhelming in support of an elected school board but I haven't heard anything after that. Did Emanuel just ignore what the people had to say? Will the voices of the people be silenced yet again??

"As a kid in the 50's I remember walking with my little brother to the drug store on a Saturday night to get ice cream and the Herald-Trib'n Times as they came off the trucks. Loved the smell of the ink and we had a whole new batch of Dick Tracey, Beetle Bailey and all the other comics to read."

6/07/2015 07:52:00 AM

"There is nothing more important in a day than all the small things that go to make up that day."

Oh yeah. A ritual. Summoned by Dad and entrusted with coins. Down to the little independent drugstore right on the corner that made Green Rivers in the back, the nearest air conditioning in the summer heat. I think weekly Trib was 7 cents and Sunday was 35 cents? I do know that the weekly magazine alone was often worth saving; the whole paper all week doesn't add up to that much anymore.

Nickel ice cream, hard as a rock, with the little birch-tasting wooden spoon and/or a cheese 'n crackers with the wood stick inside.

Very responsible position. Run home right away bearing that heavy paper with the news of the world. (I always picked an absolutely perfect one, no tears or wrinkles.)

Still love Chicago and always will -- but the Schwindler have kind of pulled the whole thing out from under us, haven't they?

Evangelical gun controller Fr. Pfleger is set to deliver another hate-filled attack on you and your Constitutional rights - this time in the southwestern suburbs. Fresh off his most recent attempt to shut down Chuck's Gun Shop, Pfleger will be seeking to recruit suburbanites in his campaign to obliterate the 2nd Amendment.

ARE YOU GOING TO SIT IDLY BY AND LET PFLEGER HAVE IT HIS WAY?

Pfleger's message of hatred against good American citizens is quickly positioning him as the Anjem Choudary of the gun control movement. In past protests at Chuck's, Pfleger has called for gun shop owners to be dragged into the streets like dogs to be "snuffed." Pfleger's insane diatribes have exhorted his followers to "snuff" duly-elected members of our legislatures as punishment for support of the 2nd Amendment. In his most recent appearance outside Chuck's, a frenzied Pfleger glared with wild-eyed fury into the TV cameras to declare that law-abiding gun owners would "pay for" the so-called "murders" that take place in his crime-ridden parish. Let there be no doubt by what Pfleger means by "pay for."

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR RIGHTS

1. Plan to be at St. George Church, 6707 West 175th Street, Tinley Park on June 11th. You should plan to be there by 6:30 PM so that you get a good seat.

2. Be sure to wear IGOLD, ISRA, or NRA shirts or hats to show your support for the 2nd Amendment.

3. Please pass this alert on to your friends and family and tell them to be at St. George Church on June 11th at 6:30 PM.

4. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs, bulletin boards, or social media sites to which you belong.

OT: Regarding Merit Nominations for SergeantHas anyone else noticed that the civilians in the Bureau of Support Services each get one nomination for merit sergeant? So the Director of Records, the Director of Finance, the "Director" of Facilities Management (a joke in itself, as she is a director with only herself to supervise), and the Deputy Chief of Support Services (he's actually a double-dipping retired patrolman) each get a pick, as do the sworn exempts. These people truly are from the Island of Misfit Toys, and they have no business putting in nominations for sworn promotions. If you know them, you are well aware that they couldn't pick out a good sergeant in a room full of chevrons.

Anonymous Anonymous said...O.T. So I'm reading the Sun Times this morning about IAD and all its blunderings when there is a quote from JENNIFER ROTTNER who is a police spokeswoman. My God when does the nepotism end? Can't these people get jobs on their own without daddy's help?

6/07/2015 08:40:00 AMNot the first time she's bellied up to the public trough. Used to be at CPS, I think.

Anonymous Anonymous said...Rahm's $96 million bike trail project running through Humboldt Park/Logan Square off to a big hit. Officer involved shooting on it's opening day! This thing is gonna be a problem. MLD (gang McCarthy "eradicated") pulls a gun on a gang team last night. Shots fired, weapon recovered, all officers are safe.

6/07/2015 12:32:00 PMSame area about two months ago had a homicide next to the trail a block west, and a shitbag got some lead a bout a month earlier just two blocks north. Area been getting real hot lately, any chance of a VRI zone ??? Or are they afraid to admit they might need one north of north avenue !

6/07/2015 06:37:00 PMTunney just asked for VRI in Lakeview on Friday and Saturday nights.

Anonymous Anonymous said...Rahm's $96 million bike trail project running through Humboldt Park/Logan Square off to a big hit. Officer involved shooting on it's opening day! This thing is gonna be a problem. MLD (gang McCarthy "eradicated") pulls a gun on a gang team last night. Shots fired, weapon recovered, all officers are safe.

6/07/2015 12:32:00 PMSame area about two months ago had a homicide next to the trail a block west, and a shitbag got some lead a bout a month earlier just two blocks north. Area been getting real hot lately, any chance of a VRI zone ??? Or are they afraid to admit they might need one north of north avenue !

6/07/2015 06:37:00 PM

From Tunney's newsletter Friday. He asked for VRI. Would much rather go there than Englewood. Looks like he knows he's not getting any more patrol officers, so trying to supplement in other ways. If Tiny Dancer turns this down, the Lakefront liberals might turn on him.

"I have spoken to Superintendent McCarthy's office about how imperative it is that we receive more police manpower in the 19th District. I have written a letter asking for a deployment operation like the CPD’s overtime violence-reduction initiative to be assigned to our community every weekend on the overnight shift to supplement our 19th District Officers. I have also asked to have a permanent Mass Transit Police Detail assigned to the Belmont CTA station every weekend from 10:00pm-5:00am for the safety of our residents and visitors. Additionally, our entertainment detail will also be assigned on Sheffield from Diversey to Belmont. My office continues to work with the Chicago Police Department and neighbors to do more to keep our community safe. I welcome your constructive ideas on how we can work together for a safer Community."

>>> Anonymous said...Here's a great example of Govt waste!men's restroom of Area Central- the facet has been running 24/7 for a week! The proper requests have been submitted multiple times by the office, but l City general services/ plumbers haven't had time to come out. This thing gets called on a daily basis and no one cares. But, I bet the sign the city paid a clout vendor to make about not wasting a drop of water was a great idea on paper.

http://youtu.be/xlugwK-hXKs

6/07/2015 02:35:00 AM<<<

As long as it is running, start a small business there bottling the water!

Nobody at the Tribune could break the story on Barbara Byrd Bennett and the insider deals at the CPS until after the mayoral run-off election was over and Rahm survived to loot the city for another term.

well now speaking of nepotism just look at Little Tommy Byrne, retires from CPD, goes to Streets and Sanitation where he knows nothing at all, but Daleys' boy. now in charge of Park District security, his daughter Carrie, a very nice girl but clueless to how to do police work has a cush job, son TJ. a boss at OEMC, and step son who will get his job back this week via politics asking the judge for a favor. I really don't see a problem sponsoring someone for a spot if they know what they are doing but giving a civilian a merit pick is dumb, and not correct. They are bringing back these retired guys why don't they bring back guys like that SWAT SGT. who knew everything ABOUT EVERYTHING involving vehicles and trucks. I met this guy on the street one day and then at 51st street garage, he had the in to get anything done, and got my squad fixed in record time and quite the gentleman. Forgot his name but it was a long Greek name.

Thanks for all the fond memories regarding going to the store for the paper.I shared a couple of paper routes with my brother and a friend. We delivered the Trib and Times int eh morning, EVERY DAY, the Daily News in the afternoon, and the Beverly Review once a week. On Sundays, Dad would help us stuff the papers and then them in the back of the station wagon and we'd sit on the tailgate while he drove us around our route. We'd then go to Mister Donut (before Dunkin) and get a dozen and chocolate milk. Great memories...

Anonymous said...Anonymous Anonymous said...O.T. So I'm reading the Sun Times this morning about IAD and all its blunderings when there is a quote from JENNIFER ROTTNER who is a police spokeswoman. My God when does the nepotism end? Can't these people get jobs on their own without daddy's help?

6/07/2015 08:40:00 AMNot the first time she's bellied up to the public trough. Used to be at CPS, I think.

6/08/2015 12:24:00 AM

How many people on this job serve quietly but proudly in Patrol, or Detectives or anywhere else and can say they are second, or third or even a few forth generation C.P.D.?

I am second generation police myself, but my dad (RIP) was on a different department.

There was a time when I would have wanted my kid to be like the Old Man but the way this job has been destroyed NO WAY.

>>> Anonymous said...Here's a great example of Govt waste!men's restroom of Area Central- the facet has been running 24/7 for a week! The proper requests have been submitted multiple times by the office, but l City general services/ plumbers haven't had time to come out. This thing gets called on a daily basis and no one cares. But, I bet the sign the city paid a clout vendor to make about not wasting a drop of water was a great idea on paper.

http://youtu.be/xlugwK-hXKs

6/07/2015 02:35:00 AM<<<

As long as it is running, start a small business there bottling the water!

Anonymous Anonymous said...Dudes!!! God knows how many tips I send to news papers media outlets and nothing gets done or even investigated! I post stuff on SCC and wahla is on the blog in less then 24 hours!

The only paper I get it does not matter as long as its Sundays paper! I get my money back with the coupons. if not, I wouldn't even bother.

"We have a great life in these United States. Never, ever forget that and give a little of yourself when you can."

I put a gum wrapper in my pocket until I see a trash can. I screw the caps back on fire hydrants -- as tight as I can kick them -- if I'm walking by. Check first did some idiot stuff a pop can or some crap in there to f__k up the suction filter on Engine 000. I got nowhere higher to go in my civic deportment.

I don't mind -- but it wears you out in a place where people are cocking traffic lights to cause an accident so they can run out in the street and rob the injured...